College Football, Week 5: Playoff Contenders Emerge

As we move into conference play portion of the 2015 college football portion, the playoff contenders and pretenders begin to separate themselves. And while last week unofficially eliminated Oregon from the title picture, you can be sure that there will be more pretenders revealed this Saturday afternoon.

Chief among those games that will decide the playoff contenders and pretenders is the tilt between Clemson and Notre Dame. While it may be argued that neither team can lose this game, this contest may be more important to the Irish. Because the lack of a conference championship certainly means Notre Dame more than likely has to run the table to get invited to Miami or Dallas.

(As a side note while most teams play conference games this week Notre Dame versus Clemson is a no conference game due to the Irish's status as an independent. Atlthough technically they are a member of the ACC. But I don't have time for that debate today.)

Of course, that is not to say the Tigers won't be prepared for this contest. Deshaun Watson hopes to live up to the hype he garnered from high school with a victory in this marquee matchup. And they don't want to let down the Clemson faithful at home.

So the Irish hope their luck will continue for another week behind backup quarterback Deshone Kiser. But this just might be the week their luck runs out My prediction is Clemson 27, Notre Dame 17



Other teams in action:





1 Ohio State at Indiana: Buckeyes finally begin to put it together on offense. Ohio State 52, Indiana 25

3 Ole Miss at 25 Florida: In 2006 the Rebels handed would-be national champion Florida their only loss of the season. Gators hope to repay the favor but fall short. Ole Miss 20, Florida 19

13 Alabama at 8 Georgia: Nick Chubb's heisman effort isn't enough to in this battle of SEC West vs
SEC East.  Alabama 28, Georgia 21

Arizona State at 7 UCLA: Bruins continue their march toward one of the four playoff spots.  UCLA  42, Arizona State 14

Bonus pick:

Navy over Air Force: Mids get payback after losing commander in chief trophy last year, and in doing so put themselves in position to bring the trophy to Annapolis.

College Football, Week 9: Oregon on upset Alert?

As we start to near the end of the college football season, the race is on to find out which teams (if any) will end the season 12-0 (or 13-0, if that team plays in a conference championship.) First and foremost this week is Oregon, who hosts their biggest game of the week when they face UCLA.

The Ducks feature one of the fastest scoring offenses in the nation, led by redshirt sophomore quarterback Marcus Mariota, who many consider to be the top prospect at the position in next year's NFL draft. And let's not forget the returning DeAnthony Thomas, aka DAT, whose 7 yard per carry is just outrageous, even for someone in the amateur ranks.

Then there's UCLA, whose hopes for a national title and PAC-12 North crown took a huge blow last weekend when they lost to Stanford. The Bruins, led by QB Brett Hundley, will look to avenge their first loss of 2013 with a stellar performance in Eugene.

Conventional wisdom says the Bruins don't stand a chance, with the Ducks averaging a whopping 57.6 points per game. And normally I would look to say that Oregon will continue on its hot streak as of late. But today I am throwing conventional wisdom out the books, and going with UCLA to hand Oregon its first lost in a shootout, 44-40.

In other top 25 action

Wake Forest at 7 Miami: I'm not so sure about the sanctions the NCAA handed down to the 'Canes in response to their most recent scandal. I'm also not sure that the 'U' finishes the season undefeated, either. What I am sure of, however, is that this isn't the first week where they lose. Miami, 49-7.

19 Oklahoma State at Iowa State: Last week I had the misfortune of thinking the Mountaineers could upset the Cowboys, only to see the visitors win 37-27. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice...there is no fooling me twice. Oklahoma State, 65-3

Connecticut at 23 UCF: The Huskies looked good a few weeks ago when they almost upset Michigan. This week I'm picking them as my upset special. Connecticut, 24-16

24 Nebraska at Minnesota: A game I almost predicted the exact score last season, I have a good feeling about this game again...for the Huskers that is. Taylor Martinez throws for 400 yards and 4 TDs. Nebraska, 45-14

20 Louisville at South Florida: Can 'Touchdown' Teddy Bridgewater and company bounce back against a better-than-their-record-shows USF squad? I think so. Louisville, 35-17

Vanderbilt at 16 Texas A &M: Johnny Football's hopes of repeating as Heisman winner may have taken a blow last week against Auburn. That still doesn't mean the Commodores have any shot of beating the Aggies. Texas A &M, 48-21

Tennessee at 1 Alabama: Less than 50,000 fans who don't 'work' according to Nick Saban even stay until halftime for this one. Like it matters anyway.  Alabama, 49-7

North Carolina State at 2Florida State: 'Famous' Jameis Winston takes another step toward becoming only the second freshman ever to win the Heisman Memorial Trophy. FSU, 28-10

9 Clemson at Maryland: What is Tajh Boyd's status for today's game? Unfortunately for the Terps, it doesn't really matter. Clemson, 27-17.

10 Texas Tech at 15 Oklahoma: At first I was going to pick the Sooners, but then I remembered their debacle earlier this year in the Red River Shootout. On the other hand, Red Raiders are due...
Oklahoma, 17-14

Duke at 14 Virginia Tech: I'd like to take this opportunity to once again wish my sister-in-law Kristen, a proud VT alum, a happy birthday. We'll just call the game against the Crimson Tide earlier in the year an aberration. Logan Thomas and company in a rout. Virginia Tech, 36-21

Eastern Michigan at 18 Northern Illinois: Huskies by a comfortable margin.

21 South Carolina at 5 Missouri: Before the season, I had the Gamecocks pegged as one team to contend for the SEC East title. Now I'm not so sure. But my gut tells me this is another upset.  South Carolina 24-21

 Penn State at 4 Ohio State: Buckeyes have yet to get their act together on defense. Urban is getting anxious, however. Look for a big change to bolster the Silver Bullets D. Ohio State, 35-14

Bonus Pick: Pittsburgh at Navy: Midshipmen lost a heartbreaker against the Rockets last week in double OT. Look for the Middies to bounce back this week at home against the Panthers. Navy, 28-24.
 That's all folks, until next time